Top Minnesota Holidays

Learn about the unique character and history of Minneapolis and its neighborhoods with local expert guides while enjoying hand selected drinks that define our city and its people. Share stories with your guide and fellow tour members as we walk the streets of Minneapolis between our bars. Chat with the knowledgeable bartenders and staff that help us get through those long winter months, and heartbreaking sports teams

An all-ages Christmas lights adventure that starts and ends at the historic Pillsbury Club, where families can explore a holiday market with local vendors and enjoy special child pricing for an affordable outing. The 1.25-hour trolley tour covers beautiful Minneapolis light displays, and riders get to judge and rank the stops to help crown the city’s fan-favorite home. It’s a bright, family-friendly experience designed for holiday fun, easy shopping, and shared seasonal magic.

Slow down, sip wine and master Italy’s most comforting pasta in this immersive gnocchi-making experience. Hosted at a stylish local wine bar, this class with Chef Aaron feels like stepping into a rustic Italian kitchen — without leaving the city. You’ll start by transforming simple ingredients — potatoes, flour, eggs and salt — into tender gnocchi dough, learning how to knead and shape each piece for that perfect pillowy bite. While your pasta cooks, you’ll prepare a deeply flavorful ragu from scratch. Dice carrots, celery and onion, simmer fresh tomatoes and enrich the sauce with beef, pork and a splash of wine for complexity. Chef Aaron walks you through every step, sharing insider tips on sauce building, timing and texture. At the end, sit down to enjoy your handmade gnocchi coated in rich ragu, paired with the warm, lively atmosphere of the wine bar. It’s a cozy culinary escape that blends technique, storytelling and incredible flavor into one memorable evening.

Step into a stylish Minneapolis wine bar and learn pasta the Italian way. This immersive class with Chef Aaron blends Old World technique with a modern night out. You’ll begin by crafting fresh pasta dough from flour, eggs and salt, learning how to knead, rest and roll it properly for perfect elasticity. Then shape two beloved classics: hand-cut tagliatelle and ricotta-filled ravioli. For the tagliatelle, prepare a silky cacio e pepe sauce with black pepper, Parmesan and Pecorino, mastering the art of emulsifying cheese and pasta water. Next, fill and seal ravioli before finishing them in a simple butter and sage sauce that highlights every delicate bite. This intimate experience includes personal instruction, premium ingredients and a full homemade pasta meal served in a trendy local venue. It’s an authentic Italian escape — right in the heart of Minneapolis.

Discover marine life wonders at SEA LIFE Minnesota, an aquarium boasting more than 10,000 sea creatures. Located in the Mall of America, SEA LIFE provides the perfect break from shopping and change of scenery. Explore four themed tanks including Amazon River, Atlantis, Sturgeon Lake and Rainbow Reef. Check out the Octopus Garden, gaze eyes on the world’s largest crab species, and walk through an underwater tunnel and see the underbellies of stingrays and turtles.

Learn all about the Twin Cities, Minneapolis, on this fun, interactive, app-led bar hunt. Make your way through the city at your own pace, without having to follow a guide or join a large tour group. The best pubs are decided for you, so you don’t need to spend time deciding which ones to visit. Complete video and photo challenges as you go, and have a great time in the process.

Swap the usual “what should we do today?” debate for a fun, hands-on candle making class hosted at a trendy local brewery in Minneapolis. In this hands-on experience, Instructor Heidi will guide you step by step as you design and pour your own custom candle. You’ll explore different scents, learn how fragrance, wax and wicks work together and create a candle that feels completely personal. And the best news? No experience is needed. Get ready for an experience that is creative, relaxing and way more memorable than sitting through another average happy hour. This class is ideal for couples looking for a unique date night, friends planning a girls’ night out, solo guests who want a calming creative escape and travelers searching for a local activity beyond the typical sightseeing list. Come for the cozy atmosphere, stay for the joy of making something with your own hands and leave with a custom candle that feels totally you.

Trade your usual brewery snacks for freshly rolled sushi in this fun, hands-on cooking class with Chef Pao. Hosted at a local brewery, this interactive experience teaches you how to create two restaurant-style sushi rolls from scratch. Begin with the crowd-pleasing California roll, packed with imitation crab, cucumber and avocado. Next, prepare a flavourful spicy salmon roll with fresh salmon, crunchy vegetables and a creamy kick of spice. You’ll learn how to handle sushi rice, arrange your fillings and roll everything neatly using professional techniques shared by Chef Pao. After class, enjoy your handmade sushi and pair it with a drink available for purchase from the brewery. Perfect for beginners, food lovers, date nights or anyone who believes sushi tastes even better when you make it yourself.